Bill 3378

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 6-1-90 SO AS TO ENACT THE "VOLUNTEER SERVICE PERSONNEL APPRECIATION ACT" AND TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO AUTHORIZE THE DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN REWARDS TO THREE ENUMERATED CATEGORIES OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE PERSONNEL SO LONG AS ALL PERSONNEL IN A RESPECTIVE CATEGORY ARE TREATED EQUALLY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. This act shall be known as the "Volunteer Service Personnel Appreciation Act".

SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 6 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 6-1-90. (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, the governing body of a local government may authorize the distribution of a gratuitous year-end or holiday monetary or other type of gift to the following categories of volunteer service personnel:

(1) reserve law enforcement officers;

(2) volunteer firefighters; or

(3) volunteer emergency medical service personnel.

(B) If the governing body of a local government elects to authorize the distribution of a gratuitous year-end or holiday monetary or other type of gift, it shall ensure all personnel in that respective category bequeathed pursuant to this section are treated equally ."